PARSHAS SHEMINI 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shemini – Mevorchim Chodesh Iyar – Avos Perek 1 28 Nissan 5778/April 13, 2018 One of the responsibilities of the leaders of any institution is to fundraise. It’s usually regarded as the most dreaded and arduous part of the job. Yeshiva administrators and Roshei Yeshiva are […]
PARSHAS SHEMINI 5778
STAM TORAH PARSHAS SHEMINI 5778 “PERFECT BALANCE”[1] During my elementary school years at the Yeshiva of Spring Valley, the menahel was Rabbi Yisroel Flam z”l. Each morning following shachris, Rabbi Flam would relate a brief mussar thought to the older students. Whenever a student became a bar mitzvah or put on tefillin for the first […]
Acharon Shel Pesach 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shvi’i Shel Pesach – Erev Shabbos Kodesh/Acharon Shel Pesach 20 Nissan 5778/April 5, 2018 In my youth, before I owned any seforim I loved siddurim and machzorim, and was always excited by new ones. This was especially true as Artscroll published its machzorim. [Today, we can hardly remember what […]
PESACH 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh – First day of Pesach 14 Nissan 5778/March 30, 2018 There’s no doubt that getting ready for Pesach isn’t easy. But with today’s new innovations there’s far less to stress about. For example, you can buy ten pieces of bread for bedikas chometz already prepared. No longer do […]
PESACH 5778
STAM TORAH PESACH 5778 “THE MORE THE MERRIER” During his youth, Rabbi Yisroel Gustman zt’l[1] was a student of Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grozdenski zt’l. On a number of occasions, Rabbi Gustman had the privilege of accompanying his Rebbe on walks through the forest. During their walks they would converse about Torah issues. […]
PARSHAS TZAV SHABBOS HAGADOL 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Tzav Shabbos Hagadol 7 Nissan 5778/March 23, 2018 As a principal in a yeshiva during the afternoon, I appreciate the formidable challenge involved in finding good teachers. In fact, that’s the hardest part of a principal’s job. The teacher must not only be knowledgeable about the subject […]
PARSHAS TZAV SHABBOS HAGADOL 5778
STAM TORAH PARSHAS TZAV SHABBOS HAGADOL 5778 “JEWS FOR JUDAISM”[1] Rabbi Elimelech Biderman relates: A person wakes up in the morning and makes himself a cup of coffee. He pours the bitter coffee into a mug, adds some sweet sugar, pours in the boiling water, and then adds some cold milk. He lifts the cup […]
PARSHAS VAYIKRA PARSHAS HACHODESH 5778
לזכר נשמת זקני ר’ אברהם יוסף בן נפתלי הערץ הלוי (ד’ ניסן) מלכה בת אברהם יעקב הלוי (ג’ ניסן) STAM TORAH PARSHAS VAYIKRA PARSHAS HACHODESH 5778 “FROM WITHIN”[1] Simon Sinek[2] related the following anecdote: “I was present recently at a large conference where a former undersecretary of defense was invited to speak. He was standing […]
PARSHAS VAYIKRA PARSHAS HACHODESH 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayikra Parshas Hachodesh/Rosh Chodesh Nissan 29 Adar 5778/March 16, 2018 This year the Staum family enjoyed a wonderful Purim seudah at the home our friends and neighbors, the Binders, around the corner from our home. Before Purim I had invited talmidim and rabbeim from our yeshiva, Heichal […]
PARSHIOS VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI PARSHAS PARAH 5778
“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)” Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei Parshas Parah/ Mevorchim Chodesh Nissan 22 Adar 5778/March 9, 2018 During shachris and mincha most weekdays, following shemoneh esrei, davening continues with the recitation of tachanun. Perhaps the most under-appreciated section of davening, tachanun is an intense supplication. We begin the prayer by resting our […]